Faulkner law helps first-responders prepare for future

Tommy Watkins of Prattville, a corrections officer at Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka, answers questions from Faulkner student Christi Davis, who is helping fill out his legal documents Friday, Feb. 27, 2015, during a first responder law clinic at the Jones School of Law Legal Clinics Allen Law Center at Faulkner University in Montgomery.(Photo: Shannon Heupel/Advertiser)Buy Photo

Sgt. Tommy Watkins, a correctional officer at Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women, knew having an authorized power of attorney and living will would give him and his family a peace of mind in case something was to ever happen to him.

He decided to take advantage of the free community legal clinic at Faulkner Law Friday where law students offered first responders in the community their services.

"It was something I've been wanting to do for quite a while," Watkins said, who began his career as a Montgomery firefighter. "I thought it was a good time to come out and take advantage of something that is much needed, something that could speak for me in the case I am incapacitated or anything else that might happen."

"It takes the burden off of my family, letting them know my wishes of what I want if I were in my right state of mind," he added. "You always want to prepare for the unknown."

The clinic was hosted through the Public Interest Programs at the Jones School of Law Legal Clinics Allen Law Center at Faulkner University.

In conjunction with attorneys from the community and professors at the school, law students were prepared to create and execute powers of attorney and advanced healthcare directives, also referred to as living wills, explained Kelly McTear, director of the Family Violence Clinic at Faulkner Law.

"Two of the most important documents I think first responders can have because of the risk of injury in the line of duty, is the power of attorney and an advanced health care directive or living will," McTear said.

A living will allows a person to designate their wishes as well as a person to enforce those wishes in case of personal injury and inability. A power of attorney acts similarly to include finances and property.

Tamara Bryant is in her third year at law school and is familiar with the high risk first-responders must take in their line of work. She volunteered her time in order to help draft documents for those who came seeking help.

"I have multiple friends back home that are involved with first responder occupations, so to me it was personal to be able to give back and to help people that I've seen make multiple sacrifices," Bryant said. "So for me to be able to be involved with them, even though it's not someone that I am connected to, it's still helping people in that capacity that are willing to help others all the time."

Bryant along with 30 other student volunteers were scheduled to work in shifts throughout the day. If a client came in, they would help draft at no cost, advanced planning documents.

The clinic was also a helpful learning experience for law students counting the days to graduation.

"It's incredibly important because it's real life experience," said Kathryn Van Tol, a third-year law student. "There are aspects of this job that you can't simulate in a classroom and it's helpful to be able to understand those without overwhelming pressure."

Officers with the Montgomery Sheriff's Office, the Montgomery Police Department, Montgomery Fire Department, the Montgomery Department of Public Safety, the Alabama Department of Corrections and campus police officers in the Montgomery area were invited to attend. A similar event is scheduled for the fall.

To learn about upcoming events, call the Faulkner Law Office of Public Interest Programs at 334-386-7924.